A’s reinstate Matt Joyce, will add Danny Coulombe for Game 2

CHICAGO - With two games against the White Sox on Friday, the A’s welcomed back outfieldder Matt Joyce, who was scheduled to play in the nightcap of the doubleheader.

“Obviously, he’s been a big part of our lineup and had a great year last year,” manager Bob Melvin said of Joyce, who missed two and a half weeks with back tightness. “He probably hasn’t had the season he envisioned up to this point, but we feel like he’s swing the bat better than the numbers would suggest and he’s healthy again.”

Both teams can add a 26th man for the second game, and the A’s brought Danny Coulombe in from Triple-A Nashville, giving them a left-handed reliever in the bullpen for the first time since Coulombe was demoted on June 14.

Melvin said it’s valuable to have a lefty available “even if it’s just to get him up to keep a lefty coming off the bench or whatever. And Daniel’s been know to get righties out, too. ... It’s nice to have someone available on the other side of the ledger on the lineup card.”

Outfielder Jake Smolinski was optioned back to Nashville to make room for Joyce.

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 26: Matt Joyce #23 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates after hitting a leadoff solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on May 26, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) less

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 26: Matt Joyce #23 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates after hitting a leadoff solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum ... more

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

Image
1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 26: Matt Joyce #23 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates after hitting a leadoff solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on May 26, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) less

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 26: Matt Joyce #23 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates after hitting a leadoff solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum ... more